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TheSouthShoreMagazine.com 35 Collaborative and, aside from the new teaching space, the new school also has an impressive list of amenities which include an expanded gym, a pool, outdoor playground facilities and additional parking facilities. Conrad is particularly proud of this project given that the Collaborative is an "incredibly important resource within this area." With this in mind, he says that all of the parties involved worked very hard to create "the perfect environment" for those that attend the school. For him, the most important outcome from that project—and indeed any project—is the fact that the building fits the needs of its users and that the clients are "very happy with the result." Related to these industrial conversions, Conrad points out that the commercial real estate market on the South Shore is starting to show "positive absorption," whereby the net flow of occupancy has risen in line with increased and steady demand. Conrad points out that this creates a very competitive market for vacancies, which is partially why demand for industrial conversions has risen so sharply. What can account for the new popularity of commercial real estate on the South Shore? For Conrad, the answer is two-fold. On the one hand, commercial real estate in this area often represents better value for money than its counterparts closer to Boston. On the other hand, traffic has gotten worse and people do not want to go into the city. About this, Conrad says, "…people want to have the option to work closer to home. We have a tremendous, educated workforce on the South Shore and companies are starting to respond to that." So what can the Conrad Group do for you if you are thinking about making that all important transition into, or within, the South Shore's commercial real estate market? Conrad advises you to start early and come up with a detailed plan about what you need. After that, it is time for expert help. This is a key step, for according to Paul McCourt, one of Conrad Group's principal brokers, "Often time clients don't really know what's available or where they should be looking. That's where we come in. We have knowledge about rental rates, potential vacancies, availability of space; this is information that isn't always publicly available." Detailed, up-to-date knowledge is something that cannot be underestimated when it comes to making a transition in this fast moving market. Conrad confirms this point saying, "The most important thing that we do for our clients is to offer them this free market knowledge …above all, we're committed to getting the best deal for our clients." This approach clearly works and, judging by the continued success of the Conrad Group, their ability to provide "the best" has positioned them as the South Shore's premier commercial real estate service. The Conrad Group 100 Grandview Road, #212, Braintree P: 617-328-1965 - F: 617-328-3021 - theconradgroup.com After twenty-six years of working in the commercial real estate sector on the South Shore, Bob Conrad, of The Conrad Group Inc., knows a new trend in the market when he sees one. What's all the buzz about? According to Conrad, there has been a growing demand for "value-added" industrial properties, a trend which has noticeably changed the commercial real estate market in this area. What exactly is a "value-added" industrial property and what does their growing popularity mean in real terms? Conrad explains that this term applies to former industrial properties that are converted and expanded into state-of-the-art facilities that can suit a wider range of uses and accommodate a broader range of tenants. Both tenants and owners benefit from these smart conversions, as the building's lifespan is extended and the tenants are provided with a brand new facility. The Conrad Group, Inc. has played a key role in several of these conversions with two, in particular, deserving special mention. In the first instance, the conversion and expansion of 141 Longwater Place in Norwell is a stunning example of what can be done with a former industrial space. This new office complex is virtually unrecognizable from its previous form and it has some impressive new features to offer. These include brand new office spaces with free conference space and excellent on-site amenities such as a cafeteria, gym and racquetball court, all of which is complimented by its convenient location close to Route 3. The best part of all? Due to the fact that it is an industrial conversion, rental rates in this complex have stayed at or below market rate. What was the exact role of the Conrad Group in this particular conversion? In this case, Conrad Group worked closely with the owners, Foxrock Properties, and their contractors in order to make sure that the conversion would appeal to office sector clients. After the design and planning phase, Conrad Group worked as Foxrock's broker in order to identify and secure potential tenants so that a more seamless transition could unfold once the build was complete. According to Bob Conrad, this approach was "extremely successful" and the entire complex is currently at 95% occupancy even though it has just been finished. The second industrial conversion of note also involved close cooperation between the Conrad Group and Foxrock Properties. In this case, they worked with the board of the South Shore Collaborative School in order to convert and expand a former industrial unit into a new state of the art school for the Collaborative. This conversion was the result of the early recognition by both Foxrock Properties and the Conrad Group that the Collaborative was outgrowing its current space. They identified a suitable property, considered its conversion potential and proposed their ideas to the board of the Collaborative. A few short years later, a beautiful new facility now houses the by Suzette Martinez Standring